Module 2

The world is moving so fast.  Blogging and the use of twitter can give us direct access to news and current information from absolutley anywhere, well almost anywhere!

The use of blogs can provide instant feedback to students. Students no longer need to wait for a piece of work to be marked by the teacher, before making recommended changes.  Blogging also allows the student and the teacher (and peers) to observe a 'work in progress'.  As teachers, we often ask, how did this student get to the endpoint?  The use of blogging will allow the teacher to 'direct' the student to an end product, with feedback and instruction.

The use of twitter with students, will encourage them to be precise and to think before writing a response and/or answer.  With Twitter only allowing 140 characters in a post, students will need to ensure that their questions and/or responses are specific and well structured.

Blogging will also allow students who generally don't like to respond in a classroom, because of fear of ridicule or getting the answer incorrect, to express themselves in a comfortable environment. Being able to express their ideas without fear, will allow these students to grow in  confidence.

All of this may mean that teachers are 'on call' 24/7.  It is recommended that as teachers we all develop a 'switch-off button'.  Yes, it's great that we can assist students from home, but we all need that work/life balance.